Did this hike at the end of September. Loved the waterfalls! The views on both sides of the trail were stunning. On the North side we could see white mountain goats grazing along the ridge. So many views on this trail.

Hiked up to the lower lake this past weekend. Microspikes were helpful. I wore gaiters, but my partner was fine with just waterproof pants. We continued on to the second lake with the goal of making it up the pass and encountered pretty deep snow. The trail was snowed over completely and there was a good amount of post-holing and route-navigation. A snowstorm began mid-way through our hike and continued for hours so I'd expect a lot more of the trail might be covered by now. Didn't see any other parties though.

I think the "Hard" rating is a bit generous unless you don't normally hike at this altitude and grade.

Beautiful trail with some nice views near the top. The Flatirons are really cool-looking peaks! The trail is really well maintained and manageable to walk on, even during the steeper points. Lots of switchbacks toward the top made the ascent easier than I anticipated. Only one very brief scrambly section.

We stopped at the very top of the second Flatiron (the trail seemed to peter out a few meters behind it) and came down via Bluebaird Trail. Passed lots of other people in the morning, but no congestion.

I want on this hike on October 12th. It was definitely the end of prime hiking season. I’m glad I went with someone that was knowledgeable about the trail because the snow and wind made the trail disappear. But I was a beautiful hike. Not super challenging but beautiful views. If you hike this this time of year, prepare for all types of weather.

Hiked today, 10/29/18. Take county road 7 (Dallas creek) literally until it ends. Its a bit further than the directions tell you-- but no worries you get there. I started my hike at 9:45am and reached the second lake in 3 hours. Just about 2 miles in (around the Mt. Sneffels wilderness sign) I stopped and put on my micro spikes and gaiters. Gaiters weren't needed until the VERY end and spikes were hit or miss but it definitely made it much easier to maneuver.

I made it easily to the lower lake and it was GORGEOUS. I continued on upwards to the second lake and the views of the lower lake were incredible. The snow drift was quite strong and foot prints started to get scarce and it also felt like I was being pelted with small ice from the winds on the back side of the mountain. I looked at the second lake and it was 70% frozen over so I decided to turn back as I was hiking alone. It is definitely worth traveling up there for the views of the lower lake though! If you go that high definitely spikes and gaiters this time of year!

Definitely beautiful. I only saw 2 other hikers all day which was amazing =)

Pay ParkMobile to park by the hour during certain high seasons (memorial to Labor Day).

Stop to read the day’s updates on the trailhead signs to remain in the know and choose your route. I recommend taking a picture of the map.

Dogs must remain leashed unless they have a very specific boulder tag and have gone through a training program, otherwise you will get a ranger ticket and ruin it for others. Please respect this rule to preserve wildlife and rare ground nesting birds that we are lucky enough to have in our area. Rattlesnakes and bears/cats do occur but you can read about their more prevalent time of year and how to avoid.

Before you come with your dog ensure you have at least 4 plastic grocery bags with you or poop bags. After picking your dogs poop up, squeeze the air out before tying it up. Then place it within another bag to prevent too much odor. Plan on carrying your poop ALL the way to the trash in your hiking pack. When people leave bags leave lining and dotting the sides of the trail, it disrupts natural scents for local wildlife and disrupts their environment. If your dog poops early on as most do, just walk it back to the trash can at the trailhead and get your extra steps in. Keep your extra bags in can you need them later on the hike.

The path up to the 2nd flatiron is beautiful. The initial 1+ mile is mostly groomed path at an incline. When you venture further, you begin to notice many switchbacks as you start to elevate. There are a few areas that definitely involve scramble and use of your hands for balance if you intend to summit. Bring a snack to enjoy up top, and pack all the trash out with you.

In late October, we did not feel that 2 Liters water was enough per person. Next time I will bring 3 liters for each person. Just be on the safe side and enjoy training with a little extra weight. There is a nice frost-resistant water fountain at the trailhead along with primitive bathrooms if the ranger house is closed when you go.

This has quickly become one of our favorite hikes. The elevation gain is serious, but there are only a few spots that get challenging. The lake is peaceful, and we had it to ourselves today. It does get snowy and icy, so wear your spikes or bring your poles.

Awesome trail. Moderately difficult with beautiful views and nature. Hiked 10/26/18 and the trail was good. Some snow but compressed. Absolutely need spikes due to ice. Did it with a four month old baby strapped to chest. A little dodgy at parts, especially ice near the end, but on a 55 degree day it was perfect.

It was a gorgeous day to hike. I started early and there was no one on the trail all the way up to Diamond Lake. I did wear spikes the entire way due to ice and snow. I couldn't have hiked the last mile without them. My dog was with me and we had a blast. Yes, the road is awful to drive on but if you're a confident driver, you can make it. Please PULL OVER if someone is behind you and you're coasting down (or up) the road. It was a celebratory hike for my 61st birthday and the day couldn't have been nicer.

I loved this trail! We hiked it in late September and it was gorgeous. The second lake is magnificent - a beautiful blue and rimmed with rocks. We didn’t make it to the third lake but I will next time.

My husband, friend, and I hiked this back in 4/2017. It was pretty much my first “real” mountain hike and will always be one of the most meaningful to me. I have a thing with heights but we made it to the tippy-top of the 2nd flatiron! If you’re planning on “celebrating” definitely wait until the top haha. Even if you’re not the most experienced hiker and it’s intimidating, go all the way - you won’t regret it. I definitely recommend appropriate footwear and gear (lots of water if you’re not used to the elevation)! We will be back!!!

This is a fantastic hike with a ton of water along the way. Beautiful waterfalls and a great lake at the top. My ten-year-old, seven-year-old, and dog are able to do this pretty well, but we live at 6000 feet. This is not the easiest hike with a lot of rocks and some steep climbs, but it is very worth it. We went on a Thursday and arrived at about 8 and parking was easy. By the time we got down about three and a half hours later the parking was a nightmare.

Gorgeous views, different types of terrain on the way up. Lots of traffic for a reason. This is a must in the Boulder area even if once. The Flatirons are stunning. The ascent is steep at times, but it’s manageable even for this visitor from out of state.

I was here last year and some improvements to the trail have been made. However, it can still be difficult to stay on near the top because it is almost solid rock. I started at 8:30 this morning and had the lake to myself along with a mountain goat. Please be aware that although the lake is only 1.4 miles from the trailhead it is steep. Also, there is a .7 mile walk from the parking lot to the trailhead.

Such a beautiful hike! It’s maybe on the more difficult side of moderate, but nothing too crazy. For the best experience, carry on past the waterfall to the lake at 11,900 ft! So serene, and we got to see our first mountain goat!